CHICAGO, IL.- On March 28 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will offer property from the Estate of Ronald C. Sloter in a single-owner auction benefitting the Columbus College of Art and Design. Sloter, a longtime Columbus resident, approached CCAD President Denny Griffith in 2005 to explore the idea of leaving his home and its contents to CCAD. Mr. Sloter wished to benefit the college through the gift of his estate, thereby memorializing his parents, Wilford and Dorothy Sloter.

Ronald C. Sloter ran his familys concrete-supply company after his father passed away. Throughout his life Sloter was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts, collecting paintings and prints by Theodore Earl Butler, Robert Henri, George Wesley Bellows, Mary Cassatt, Charles Burchfield, Childe Hassam and others. He also donated anonymously to theater and charitable organizations, often honoring his parents by giving in their name rather than his own. Eventually he became friends with CCAD President Denny Griffith, who at the time served as deputy director of the Columbus Museum of Art. Sloter was a regular supporter of CCAD; among his donations were several tons of concrete used to build the foundation of the schools iconic, 10-story-high red ART sculpture, which is a central feature of the CCAD campus.

The March 28 auction will include many paintings, prints and drawings from Sloters impressive collection. A George Wesley Bellows painting, Lady in a Green Dress, is expected to sell for $70,000 to $90,000. Two Theodore Earl Butler paintings are each estimated at $30,000 to $50,000. Rounding out the sale are American, English and Continental furnishings from Sloters home.

Leslie Hindman will host a private reception at the Sloter home on Thursday, March 11, and invitees will have a chance to preview highlights from Sloters collection in the same surroundings where he enjoyed them.

Proceeds from the sale of Sloters assets will be used by the college to create a named scholarship award in his parents name. The schools board of trustees hopes to award up to ten scholarships a year using the endowment.